9 Dinner Ideas For When You Desperately Need To Go Grocery Shopping

Spiced chickpeas on toast

Fact: You can turn almost anything into a meal by serving it on whole grain toast. To make this fibre-packed dish, sauté canned (drained and rinsed) chickpeas with olive oil, minced garlic, diced onion and a pinch of ground cumin or cumin seeds. Add a splash of chicken or vegetable stock, white wine or water, and simmer until the mixture begins to thicken. Serve over whole grain toast and finish with a drizzle of olive oil for some heart-healthy fats and extra flavour.

Creamy tomato white bean soup

There's nothing more soothing after a long day than a bowl of hot soup.  To whip up this simple recipe, start by sautéing diced onion and minced garlic in olive oil until soft and translucent. Add a 425gm can of diced tomatoes and a 425gm can of white beans (drained and rinsed). Simmer for 5 minutes, then purée the mixture in a blender until smooth.

The white beans add a rich, velvety texture to the soup, eliminating the need for milk and cream. Plus, they deliver a shot of belly-filling fibre and protein.

Fried rice with sauerkraut

Skip the takeout and try this Asian-inspired recipe instead: Stir-fry cooked brown rice (or any other whole grain) with a beaten egg and a splash of soy sauce. Add any thawed frozen veggies you have on hand (like broccoli florets or a stir-fry mix) and cook until warmed through. Then, fold in sauerkraut or kimchi and drizzle with toasted sesame oil. Sure, this combo may sound a little strange, but the deep umami flavour of the fermented veggies makes this simple dish totally addictive

Sweet and nutty stuffed sweet potato

Who says dinner has to be savoury? Whisk almond or cashew butter with unsweetened almond milk to make a thin sauce. (You should be able to drizzle it.) Spoon over a baked sweet potato and top with a diced apple or pear. Dust with cinnamon and garnish with a few chopped almonds, if you crave some crunch.

Pasta with tuna, sun-dried tomatoes and peas

Sitting down to a plain bowl of noodles is far from exciting. Here's how to improve the flavour and staying power with tuna and veggies: Sauté thawed frozen peas in olive oil with crushed garlic and thinly sliced sun-dried tomatoes. Add cooked whole wheat pasta and canned oil-packed tuna (drained) and cook until warmed through. If you happen to have some grated Parmesan, adding a spoonful or two would only make this easy pasta dish even tastier.

Shaved carrot and lentil salad

No lettuce? No problem—you can still make a respectable veggie salad. Using a vegetable peeler, peel carrots into thick noodle-like strands. (Or if you prefer them crunchy, chop them.) Toss with cooked lentils, olive oil, white wine vinegar and whatever herbs you happen to have in your spice rack (parsley or dill are great). Top with chopped walnuts and a dollop of plain yogurt, if you have a spoonful or two left in that almost-empty tub.

Quick veggie curry

Make a quick, nutrient-rich dish by sautéing a thawed frozen stir-fry mix with a spoonful of red or green curry paste. Add coconut milk and simmer until the mixture is heated through and the flavours are well incorporated. Serve over whole grain noodles or brown rice and top with crushed cashews or a hard-boiled egg for added protein.

Warm corn, black beans and peppers with pesto

Craving Tex-Mex? Sauté thawed frozen corn with olive oil until the corn starts to brown. Add a can of black beans (drained and rinsed) and jarred roasted red pepper strips, and cook until warmed through. Remove from the heat, fold in chopped red onion, and drizzle with jarred pesto. You can stuff the mixture into a tortilla, or eat it as-is. It's delicious and filling either way.

Lemon artichoke dip, veggie and cheese plate

Make a quick, tangy dip by processing jarred marinated artichokes (drained and rinsed), lemon juice, garlic and olive oil until nearly smooth. Serve the dip with whatever veggies you have left in the fridge, along with a side of whole grain crackers or pita and a wedge of leftover cheese.